Utah Jazz: Basketball legends, coaches speak out about Jerry Sloan

Deseret News

Published: Thursday, Feb. 10 2011 10:52 p.m. MST

Utah Jazz's John Stockton, right, walks off the court with teammate Karl Malone, center, and coach Jerry Sloan after beating the Houston Rockets 103-100 in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals Thursday, May 29, 1997, in Houston. Stockton hit a three-point shot at the buzzer to win the game and advance his team to The NBA Finals to meet the Chicago Bulls. (Pat Sullivan, Associated Press)

"Few people have epitomized all the positives of team sports more than Jerry Sloan. A basketball lifer, Jerry was as relentless in his will to win on the sidelines for the Utah Jazz as he was as an All-Star guard for the Chicago Bulls. In over two decades as a coach, he taught his players that nothing was more important than the team. His most impressive qualities were his leadership and his extraordinary ability to encourage his players to subjugate their individual games for the benefit of the whole. Two trips to The Finals and over 1,200 regular-season victories more than validate his philosophy. Jerry moves on having established himself as one of the greatest and most respected coaches in NBA history. I and the rest of the NBA family wish him great success and happiness as he moves to the next chapter of his life" — NBA Commissioner David Stern

"He's a guy I admire and looked up to. I don't know if it's some sort of big brother, father deal, but he's good representation in both those areas. That's the type of esteem I hold him and still do. He was as prepared a guy as you would want to be in a fox hole with. He was a loyal teammate, as well as a coach and friend, and you just can't replace guys like that. Guys you can count on in any weather." — Former Jazz guard John Stockton

"I have enjoyed watching his teams over the years. It doesn't matter who he has got, they always seem to play the same way. ... I just hope he feels good about what he's done, because he has been great for the Jazz, the state of Utah and the city of Salt Lake. I, for one, am sad to see him go." — BYU men's basketball coach Dave Rose

"For me, he's an idol. I think he set the standard of what coaching's all about and that is believing in your system and sticking to it and doing what you need to. I know for me, I would have loved to had played for him because you knew where he stood. There was never any gray areas. It's a sad day because I think he was one of the top coaches ever and he's done so much for not just the Utah Jazz but for all the coaches that are in the state to really watch what he does. He's the nicest guy in the world, too. I remember many times just asking him questions and with his busy schedule just being willing to do it." — BYU women's hoops coach Jeff Judkins

"Not having him on the sidelines is going to be very weird. I can go back and get a scouting report from 1990 and it's pretty much the same for Utah ... all the same plays, all called the same when (Jeff) Hornacek, John Stockton and (Karl) Malone were there and before they were there. He's coached longer there than anyone in anything — baseball, NFL, hockey, soccer, the National Goat Throwing Contest — that's just incredible." — Suns coach Alvin Gentry to NBA.com